Sao Paulo can maintain their narrow lead atop the Group D table when they travel to Estadio Alejandro Villanueva on Tuesday to face Alianza Lima on matchday four of the Copa Libertadores campaign.
Last month, the Peruvians moved up to third in that group thanks to a 3-2 victory at home to Talleres, putting them three points below Soberano who defeated Libertad 2-0.
Match preview
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It took them nearly two years, but at long last, Alianza Lima picked up their first triumph in the group phase of this tournament, their first since April 2023.
Claiming that win took some doing, as Nestor Gorosito's men squandered a 2-0 advantage in the second half against the Argentines but pulled it out with a goal in the 95th minute despite being a man down.
As a result, they are right back in the thick of the race for a spot in the last 16, just two points below Libertad, who they will face in their final group encounter later this month.
Entering this match, Alianza have won two of their previous three home games across all competitions but lost their last one domestically on Friday against Cienciano (1-0).
The Peruvians have not won two group contests in the same Copa Libertadores campaign since 2010 (four), which was the last time they qualified for the knockout portion of this competition.
You have to go back over 28 years to find the last time El Equipo de Pueblo defeated a Brazilian side in the Libertadores, earning a 1-0 triumph over Cruzeiro at home in the 1997 group stage.
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Another strong start to the group phase of this tournament has Sao Paulo well-positioned to make the knockout round for the third time in their last three appearances.
They are unbeaten in their last eight group matches at the Copa Libertadores, keeping two clean sheets in their three matches played this year.
Luis Zubeldia's men have been rock-solid at the back, particularly away from home, winning their last four group games in this competition, and conceding just one goal.
The Brazilians have gone unbeaten in 11 straight competitive fixtures, with their last defeat being against arch-rivals Palmeiras in the Paulista A1 semi-finals in March.
Going back to 2024, Sao Paulo have not conceded an opening-half goal in their previous five Libertadores group fixtures, netting a combined three times in the first 45 minutes over that stretch.
Tricolor Paulista have a 100% all-time away record against Alianza Lima in this competition, winning both of their previous meetings in the Peruvian capital by a single goal.
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Team News
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On matchday three, Alianza were missing Alan Cantero and Pablo Ceppelini, as they are recovering from torn muscles, while Jean Pierre Archimbaud sat out with a cracked bone.
Two second-half cautions against Talleres means that their vice-captain Carlos Zambrano will be suspended for this upcoming clash.
Paolo Guerrero netted a brace in that encounter, though captain Hernan Barcos was the hero, coming off the bench to score the winner deep into stoppage time.
As for Sao Paulo, a sore back kept Igor Vinicius off the field on matchday three, Henrique Carmo sat out with an ankle issue, Robert Arboleda has a muscular problem, Jonathan Calleri has a cruciate ligament injury and Luiz Gustavo is recovering from a lung contusion.
A hamstring strain could keep Oscar sidelined for this match, Lucas Moura is questionable with a sore knee, Pablo Maia has an inner ankle ligament tear and Young is doubtful with a foot injury.
Lucas Ferreira broke the deadlock just beyond the hour mark against Libertad, with Andre Silva adding some insurance, while Rafael made three stops for his second clean sheet of the competition.
Alianza Lima possible starting lineup:
Viscarra; Enrique, Velasquez, Garces, Trauco; Gaibor, Noriega, Lavandeira; Castillo, Guerrero, Quevedo
Sao Paulo possible starting lineup:
Rafael; Ferraresi, Ruan, Franco, Wendell; Alisson, Bobadilla; Cedric, Alvez, Ferreirinha; Silva
We say: Alianza Lima 0-1 Sao Paulo
Despite all of the injuries Sao Paulo have incurred this season, someone always seems to step up for them, and their depth should power them to another victory on Tuesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Joel Lefevre
